Rye Of The Tiger IPA - Great Lakes Brewing Company

Darkmagus82

Montana

4.5/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from growler into a pint glass

Appearance – Pours a beautiful golden-orange color with a nice and thick two finger orange tinted head. The head is amazing in retention very slowly fading to leave a wonderful level of lace on the sides of the glass.

Smell- The has a nice smell of rye and a bready aroma. With these malty aromas is a good presence of sweeter aromas as well as hops. The hops are mainly of a grapefruit smell but are accompanied by some grassy hop as well. The sweeter aromas are of a citrus tangerine and some smells of caramel. Rounding out all the aromas is some spicy notes creating an overall pleasing smell.

Taste – The taste begins with a fantastic rye and bready flavor mixed with a bit of caramel sweetness. A grapefruit hop flavor quickly complements these. This grapefruit grows stronger through the taste, but is balanced by a sweeter orange flavor that begins coming to the tongue. Some grassy and spicy hop flavors later develop in the taste, with the sweeter flavors beginning to fade some at the end and the grapefruit flavor getting stronger. The rye and bready flavors remain consistent throughout the taste profile and create a great base of support for all the hop flavors. In the end a pleasant and rather balanced rye and bitter hopped flavor is left to linger on the tongue.

Mouthfeel- The body of the brew is nice and creamy with a carbonation level that is on the average to just below average side. The creamier body and lower carbonation are great for allowing all those wonderful rye and hop flavors to be sensed by the tongue while not being too overwhelming to effect the beers drinkability.

Overall – This is a very enjoyable and tasty rye IPA. Just about everything is awesome. It has a great look, smell, taste, and feel. This is one that I will certainly buy on much more occasion.

Serving type: growler

05-12-2013 00:25:03 | More by Darkmagus82

inlimbo77

Delaware

3.74/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

64oz growler filled 4/18/13, drank 4/25/13
DFH IPA glass

A: Clear pale orange color. Full two fingers of fluffy bright white head. Leaves lots of sticky lacing. Good carbonation still. Pretty filtered brew here.

S: Spicy notes. Earthy and piney hops. Actually pulling a good amount of grainy malts in there there. I was hoping for more hop aromas.

T: Nice bitterness up front, just a touch. Then you get some spice from the rye malts that really settle in mid palate. Close is dry and lingering piney/spice flavors.

M: Light medium bodied.

Serving type: growler

04-26-2013 13:31:18 | More by inlimbo77

ThePorterSorter

New York

4.48/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Surprised to see this beer on tap in Buffalo, thanks merc for the heads up...

The beer pours a clear, rich looking amber with a wispy white head that laces poorly. The nose is quite tropical with heavy notes of grapefruit and candied pineapple. There are very pronounced aromatic hops, which makes this my type of RIPA...
The taste doesn't disappoint either with just the right touch of tropical bitterness, candy sweetness, and a distinct rye spiciness. Medium bodied and well carbonated; the aftertaste is a pleasantly biting bitter with just a touch of burning ethanol. This is an exceptional beer that makes great use of the rye grain to build up an interesting body and taste profile. I'd absolutely try this beer again, but appreciate that it's draught only and not seen often.

Serving type: growler

09-08-2012 00:37:51 | More by ThePorterSorter

DrewV

New York

3.98/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this in a growler from my local store. Drank two glasses before I knew it. Really smooth brew.

Nice rye graininess and flavor. A bit thin, but that's to be expected with this style of beer. I found it very hoppy for a rye beer, but it definitely blends well and adds a good amount of flavor. Really can't detect the 7.5% ABV at all. A very smooth texture and it definitely goes down easy. Something I would recommend and hope to try again someday, although it's a bit pricey. Definitely one of the best rye beers available, but I don't think I'd make it a regular purchase. For the price, there are better beers out there.

Serving type: growler

08-30-2012 02:08:02 | More by DrewV

maximum12

Minnesota

4.73/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Why, oh why, has this beer eluded me for so long? Three trades fallen through, one blown keg, it seemed a beer my rye-loving self was destined to never enjoy. Then came srivera14. Thanks! 64 oz. growler shared with my wife.

Growler phhhhttts encouragingly on opening; plenty of purty rollers. Lighter, closer to golden than I'd imagined. Nose is a nice mix of citrus, herbal, & spiciness. More IPA than rye, but hey, who's complaining?

Rye of the Tiger. I've been anticipating it for so long that it's sure to disappoint - & it doesn't. Wow. Blast of peppery rye greets my tongue, practically singeing the top of my delicate mouth. A hop front rolls through on its heels - more herbs, citrus, & enough bitterness to qualify as a Sheen. Bitter & rye linger on. Nice & oily on the tongue, & my first glass is already gone. Where'd it go?

Bloody hell. This could qualify for the Olympics in either the rye or IPA category & take a medal. To call this wonderful isn't sufficient - perhaps the best straight-up rye I've ever tasted.

Serving type: growler

08-18-2012 02:13:10 | More by maximum12

cpetrone84

Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy cloudy copper orange with a creamy off white head, decent lace and some larger bubbles on top. The nose has some light caramel malt foundation, very faint note of bready rye, citrusy and oily hop with notes of peppery spice. The taste is more spicy and less hoppy, a bit soft up front. Caramel malt, a fair bit of rye and some peppery spice, citrus hops, oily and piney. The feel is a bit thin up front but an assertive carb and light driness in the back add to the soft palate.

Serving type: growler

07-20-2011 02:13:12 | More by cpetrone84

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.88/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Huge thanks to RyanMcFly1985 for going out of his way and grabbing a growler of this for me.

Pours a hazed orange copper color with a nice off white head. Smell is pretty pungent with some nice citrus hops loaded with grapefruit along with some floral notes. A bit of spiciness I assume comes from the rye and a touch of sweet caramel malt. The taste draws back quite a bit from the nose. Nice flavor bouquet, but not quite as pungent and hop-forward as I was expecting from the nose. Mouthfeel is nice and dry with a medium body. Drinkability is nice. Enough going on to keep me back and the nose is quite wonderful.

Serving type: growler

09-28-2010 11:09:35 | More by Thorpe429

LordAdmNelson

Ohio

4.35/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Grabbed this from the brewpub the other day, very glad I did. Pours an amber brown ruby color with plenty of tan head that leaves some nice lacing on the glass. Nose is a blast of hops, piney and herbal, with a bit of rye malt thrown in. Very nice, and definitely the rye-IPA type beer I was hoping for.

Taste is very good, and a big hop bomb! Imagine a really hoppy IPA (one of those that meets the levels of some DIPAs) with a bit of rye malt thrown in, giving the beer a spicier, more robust malt offering. Delicious. Hop profile shys away from fruity, staying on the herbal, piney, grassy side of things, though I think this is accentuated by the rye.

Good feel, nicely carbonated and smooth. Lighter than I would have expected, but that definitely helpe on the drinkability!

Really high-quality brew here from GL. Normally I'm on the fence about their beers, but this one is definitely a winner for those interested in something a bit more extreme and hop-forward.

Serving type: growler

08-26-2010 18:46:12 | More by LordAdmNelson

Auspice

Ohio

4.43/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Growler fill from 7/2; cracked open 9/6 that I had stored in my cellar.

Pours into my Sam Adams Perfect Pint with a finger and a half of of head and a hazy caramel color.

Strong citrus aroma with a slight pine smell and rye greets your nose on the back end.

Strong cascade hops as the very first sip pours down my throat with a sweet/tart bite on the finish reminding me a bit of peaches and apricots.

The body is slightly heavy and very smooth.

Another stellar beer from Great Lakes; it's a damn shame that this is currently not in their bottle lineup. Very easy drinker and incredibly tasty; kudos to the chef!

Serving type: growler

09-07-2009 02:41:18 | More by Auspice

Onenote81

North Carolina

3.99/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into a tulip glass. Pours a slightly hazy gold with a thick white head on top. Good retention. Scent is odd - mushy wet grains, cereal, grass clippings. Not what I expected from a zesty IPA. Good crisp feel. Not too heavy. Easy to drink. Bitter fresh hops, some spicy rye zest, easy finish. Nothing in the flavor is a turn off. A nice bitter IPA that shies away from the citrus and packs more of a spicy character that I like. A good one.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2013 00:59:37 | More by Onenote81

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3.9/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Broke out a bottle of this before the SDSU/Nevada game. It was Shipley's last home win for the Wolfpack.

Pours a light mild orange and darker yellow. Looks nice, Great Lakes have never had a hard time making a professional looking beer. Aroma was mild on the rye, Simcoe hops were in good use, but not overly heavy handed about it. Fruit leaning aromas from the hops, grapefruit & tangelo.

Taste and body of the beer was lighter on the feet than expected with the rye, the rye is not heavy or plentiful apparently. But that is not to say the beer is compromised in any way, it just means its actually a little easier to drink than I may have expected, smoother flowing, higher carbonation to the mouthfeel. Hides the alcohol quite well. If you were expecting a rye heavy beer, you are probably disappointed.

I liked it. I don't think west coast ipa's are great lakes strength, but they showed they can make a good one here.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 23:28:47 | More by Beerandraiderfan

oberon

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Gr4eat to see this beer down here in NC.Poured into a standard pint glass a clear medium golden with a nicely formed half finger white head that clung to the glass it settled.Aromas are on the lighter side with grapefruit rind and mild rye sharpness detected.Flavors of leafy hops with a tinge of grapfruit rind although not in your face,the rye gives off some sharpness,there is a firm biscuit maltiness that plays a role as well.A solid beer to be expected from GLB but not great.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 21:10:27 | More by oberon

rodlavers

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

BBD 6/25/13. Poured into snifter for review.

Pours a nice hazy copper orange color, with a thick white head. Retention is not great, but decent lacing.

Smell is not overwhelming. I honestly get more fruit than rye: blend of mango citrus and spice. It's all a bit subdued for me, but still nice and easy

Flavor is similar, except rye is more present. Still, it's overpowering, but I enjoy blend of citrus fruit and spice.

Feel is nice and bitter, thirst-quenching IPA bite.

Overall decent beer. I may be looking for more a rye punch in my rye IPAs than this has to offer. Still, decent beer and one I am glad I tried in a bottle. I liked it enough on draft to grab a bottle. Cheers.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 23:44:52 | More by rodlavers

WillCarrera

Illinois

4.06/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle, best before date of 07/02/13, poured into a pint glass.

A- Pours a clear orange color, topped with an inch of white head, leaves nice lacing.

S- Huge hop aroma, grapefruit, orange, also some floral and earthy hop aromas, pretty complex and awesome. There's also a nice amount of caramel malt and rye.

T- Big hop bitterness with grapefruit and pine, nice grapefruit and orange juiciness, bready, caramel malt and a bit of rye spiciness towards the finish.

M- Medium-bodied, smooth feel, dry finish.

O- A very tasty IPA, highly drinkable, I'm glad I have a six-pack of this.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 02:33:52 | More by WillCarrera

lovindahops

New York

4.06/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Finally getting the chance to try rye of the tiger

A- extremely bright orangish copper color. Massive carbonation rising to the top of the glass with excellent lacing on the edges of the glass

S- pine and sweet citrus rise to the top of the glass without question. A strong caramel malt scent trails behind with a whiff of spicy rye. I definitely get some tropical notes at the end as well

T- tropical mango flavors with a strong spicy and zesty rye flavor. More heavy and sweet with the caramel than I prefer, there could be more piney and citric hop presence in the taste profile. Still, a major presence in the spicy rye department

M- coating flavor all over. Well carbonated

O- good spicy rye ale that's really potent with flavor.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 21:18:16 | More by lovindahops

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Tap: Poured a clear dark golden color ale with a small foamy head with medium retention and minimal lacing. Aroma of spicy rye notes with some citrus hops notes. Taste is dominated by citrus notes with some spicy rye malt with light bitter finish. Body is a bit light with good carbonation. Not bad just a little bit softer then I was expecting with rye not coming out as much as expected.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 20:17:30 | More by Phyl21ca

justintcoons

Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

12oz bottle poured into a shaker.

Appearance
Golden amber with 1 finger of off-white head. Good clarity with low carbonation and good retention.

Nose
Mild rye with fresh citrus and caramel. Touches of tropical fruits.

Taste
Maltier than the nose lets on. The rye is kept fairly mild but is obviously there. Caramel malts with a fair amount of toffee. Light notes of candied orange and lemon. A touch of papaya and pineapple. The rye picks up in the finish along with notes of dry pine.

Mouthfeel
Medium-full bodied, silky, oily, crisp and dry.

Overall
Nicely balanced and not overly bitter. Easy drinking. Good show for a Rye IPA.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 13:03:08 | More by justintcoons

n2185

North Carolina

3.51/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a slightly hazy honey color with a finger of off-white head that fades into a frothy ring with decent lacing.

S: Sweeter citrus notes up front followed by dry pine aromas. It's all a bit muted smelling.

T: Grapefruit, citrus rind, and pine flavors with a little spicy rye mixed in. Some caramel malts come through as well. The finish is moderately bitter.

M: Medium body and carbonation, this beer is nicely carbonated and avoids being too watery or oily.

O: An alright beer overall, though nothing special. The nose is a bit muted and the flavor lacks the depth and explosive hop punch that come with the best IPA's.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 11:52:34 | More by n2185

GuinnessAtRogerWilco

New Jersey

4.4/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle poured into a Stella chalice glass.

AP: Has a hazy dark gold and orange colour with a 3/4" fluffy white head that dissipates down to 1/4". Little trickles of bubbles still floating up in an attempt to reinforce the head.
AR: Biscuit and cereal grains with pine and grapefruit up front with pineapple sneaking in the back door. Perhaps a little orange and tangerine in the background as well.
T: This is a juicy IPA, wet and sticky hops. Very very nice. The biscuit and cereal malt mixes nicely with the hops throughout with a bit of caramel thrown in. The hops taste as they smell in the nose, but with the grapefruit and pine rather dominant. Nice even bitterness on the finish along with some rye notes.
M: Rather crisp and well carbonated, does dry off a bit towards the end but not totally as the lushness of this beer is just top drawer.
OV: A very tasty and nicely done IPA. Juicy fruity sticky hops balanced by good malt, just the right amount of bitterness and dryness to finish. Well done effort by Great Lakes.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 04:33:22 | More by GuinnessAtRogerWilco

tastybeer

North Carolina

4.39/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A: Golden and clean. Carbonation is visible in the beer and at the top is a nice white oily soap head. Lace is shifty, sticky, and spotty.

S: Delightfully fragrant. Flowers and spice, zesty and fruity. Malts seem to be light and bread doughy with some sweeter caramel cream. Very bright, clean, and generally fun to smell.

T: The taste suits the smell very well. Sooo: Delightfully flavorful. Flowers and spice, zesty and fruity. Malts seem to be light and bread doughy with some sweeter caramel cream. - Bright, spicy, resinous and smoothly filled with super fine carbonation bubbles. Bitterness sits evenly alongside all the hoppy-fun rye-sour-bitter flavors.

M: It's great but the smell and taste are more engaging. Body and texture are right where they should be and match up nicely with my expectations based on how this beer is sizing up for me so far.

O: This is another excellent brew by Great Lakes. I'm only having one right now but this could make for a great session.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 02:18:19 | More by tastybeer

rboinski

California

3.98/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into a wine tasting glass

appearance: Pours a brilliant deep copper color with a dense 1" head that fades to a ring around the glass.

Smell: I get some rye character in the smell, and definitely some floral hops coming through. Almost smells like a Gewürztraminer and I have no idea why.

Taste: This is a great tasting IPA. The rye lends itself a little spiciness to the backbone of the beer. The hop flavors are a bit overwhelmed but it has a nice hop bitterness that lingers on the finish. The nose and taste are very different to me, I was expecting a much more hop forward taste but I was surprised to find a spicy bitter ipa without much floral or citrus character.

Mouthfeel: The mouthfeel is great, I am a fan of rye. Nice carbonation and extreme smoothness.

Overall: This is a solid beer. It is a nice IPA to drink with a brat and some spicy mustard. Very solid offering

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 00:49:53 | More by rboinski

IronLover

Pennsylvania

4.01/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Amber ot copper orange in color with a slight chill haze. Poured with a thick, rich foam that quickly reduced to a wispy cap that left a ladder of white sticky lacings down the glass. Sweet caramel and rye malt aromas with light earthy citrus and warming resinsous pine hop aromas. Medium bodied with a smooth creamy feel. Strong rye followed by sweet malts up front. Light citrus hops in the beginning followed by earthy pine thru the middle to the end. Finishes crisply with a lingering, resinous hop bitterness.

Serving type: on-tap

05-15-2013 18:58:46 | More by IronLover

admccabe

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

A- Pour from bottle into pint glass. Medium amber color, nice head of foam that stayed awhile.
S-
T- Very drinkable, light on alcohol flavor but still nice amount of hops flavor. The bitterness isn't as bad but there is some definite spice flavor going on. There is the initial taste and then the taste from the hops, interesting in how its so distinct.
M- The hops finish this after your sip, leaving behind that flavor of pine.
O- I like this beer, I'm a big fan of Great Lakes so I'm prob a tad biased. I'd buy it again, but I like their other IPA's better (like Commodore Perry). Apples and Oranges though.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2013 20:30:31 | More by admccabe

Jimmys

Pennsylvania

3.89/5  rDev -4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle. best before 06/17/13.

A: very clear, slightly pale orange body. a bright while slightly frothy head on top. retention is reasonable. lacing is spotted.

S: malty aroma, chewy and pronounced. a minor spicy rye smell. piney and resinous as well. a well balanced brew that is not too one-sided either way.

T: similar to the nose, this body has a sizeable grain presence. more citrus and orange-y flavors on the body than were in the nose. chewy. a bit of alcohol. bitterness in the finish but nothing crazy. not too shabby.

M: average carb. medium bodied.

D: didn't get a ton of rye or really not as much as I would have liked. bummer. regardless still a solid brew. good hop presence, well balanced. a good ipa, would have really dug more rye as I think it would have sent this over the top.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2013 03:47:56 | More by Jimmys

fmccormi

New York

4.38/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Straight pour from a 12oz pry-off bottle to my Tired Hands oversized wineglass; freshness date of July 2, 2013 printed in white ink in the bottom-right quadrant of the label, between the barcode and the label name (“For freshest taste, please enjoy by: 07/02/13 11503CE”). So, by my calculations, that makes this bottle, what, five and a half weeks old?

Appearance (4.5): A good two fingers of pale, custard-colored head comes off of the pour, dying eventually to a film on the surface of the beer, which boasts a rich, reddish, auburn body with honey highlights. It leaves a good trail of lacing, with a couple of thin, clingy collars and scattered suds at the top; as the body goes down, the far side of the glass sports a solid coating of lace. The head could be a bit richer at the start, but this is excellent lacing.

Smell (4.25): Oozing with fresh, resinous pine, ground-up grapefruit peel, some sweet pineapple nectar lying underneath, and an earthy, rich aroma of fresh-baked multigrain bread with a slightly peppery spiciness mixed into it. This one’s firing on all pistons, for the Rye IPA substyle—could only improve with a more aroma.

Taste (4.5): THIS is where all the rye is, and it’s fantastic. Lots of peppery, herbal spice that washes over and bridges the bitter citrus peel, bright, citrusy hop flavor (red grapefruit flesh), and that rich, grainy bread character that fills out the malt body a bit—but only a little bit. This is on the hop-forward side, for sure, and the rye spice only seems to accentuate it. The beer finishes with a solid, vaporous bitterness that folds in a mild alcohol heat, which only fits with the hop character, solid bitterness, and rye spice. This is extremely well-crafted and balanced.

Mouthfeel (4.25): This has a nice, full feel with a medium-weight body and a lush carbonation that foams easily, fully, and with a gaseous levity from the alcohol on the palate. It tingles pleasantly, not quite prickling, and leaves a very dry finish—waaay too easy to drink.

Overall (4.25): Mmmhm. Damn this beer is good. Can’t believe this one is only hovering around a 4.05 (at the time of review). Can’t wait to get more of this one, honestly, because not only is great right now but I imagine the solid rye character of this will help distract from the hops fading too much. But still. This is really, really good. Go out and get some, pronto.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2013 02:02:56 | More by fmccormi